Food & Cooking Recipes Dessert & Treats Recipes Roasted Papaya With Brown Sugar 3.6 (32) Cooking papaya at a high temperature enhances its natural sweetness, making it a tasty side dish or dessert. Close Credit: James Baigrie Prep Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 40 mins Total Time: 50 mins Servings: 4 Jump to recipe If you're looking for a unique take on papaya recipes, try roasting the fruit in the oven. First, brown sugar and ginger are sprinkled on top of the papaya to deepen its delightful flavor. The fruit is then roasted at a high temperature to bring out its natural sugars, making way for a delicious caramelized syrup and jammy texture. To balance the sweetness, the dish is served with a pinch of cayenne and freshly squeezed lime juice. Enjoy roasted papaya just as you would roasted squash—chopped and tossed in a warm salad, paired with a protein, or filled with grains and cooked vegetables. You can also serve it with ice cream or yogurt for a tropical-themed dessert. How to Pick a Perfect Papaya—and Ways to Enjoy This Delicious Fruit What Kind of Papaya to Use We like to use Solo papayas for their petite size, which makes for perfect portions. If you use larger Mexican papayas instead, we recommend quartering them instead of halving. How to Cut Papaya To cut papaya, place it on its side on a cutting board. (Always be sure to secure cutting board by placing a lightly damp kitchen towel or paper towels underneath.) Trim the ends with a sharp knife, if you'd like. Slice the papaya in half, lengthwise, then scoop out the seeds with a spoon. For best results, wait to cut papaya until you're ready to use it; otherwise it can oxidize. Papaya seeds are edible—they have a sharp, peppery flavor. However, be sure to eat them in moderation as overindulging can cause gastrointestinal upset. Directions Preheat oven and combine sugar and ginger: Preheat oven to 450°F. Stir together sugar and ginger in a small bowl. Prepare papaya halves: Arrange papaya halves, cut sides up, in a 10-by-13-inch baking dish. Sprinkle sugar mixture evenly over halves. Bake papaya: Bake the papaya, brushing the edges with melted sugar mixture (it will collect in well of fruit) 2 or 3 times, until mixture is bubbling and papaya edges are beginning to darken, 35 to 40 minutes. Top with cayenne and serve with lime: Sprinkle each serving with a pinch of cayenne. Serve with lime wedges. Storage Roasted papaya can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 5 days. How to Serve Roasted Papaya These fruits can be topped with ice cream or yogurt and served as a dessert, or be served as a side dish in place of roasted squash. You can also fill roasted papaya halves with a grain salad for a unique presentation. More Tropical Fruit Recipes to Try: Easy Mango Chutney Pineapple and Mango Rum Cocktails Tropical Fruit Biscotti Easy Pineapple Upside Down Cake Tropical-Fruit Crepe Cake Ceviche with Tropical Fruit and Habanero Frozen Mango Margarita Spiced Shrimp Fajitas with Grilled Pineapple Pico Frequently Asked Questions What does roasted papaya taste like? Papaya has a sweet, mild flavor that's similar to melon or mango. Roasting deepens this flavor and adds nutty notes from the caramelization. Can I omit the sugar? You can omit the sugar, but even a small amount is important for making delicious roasted papaya. The ingredient adds flavor and intensifies the caramelization process. If you don't want to use sugar, try drizzling the fruit with maple syrup or agave syrup instead. How do I soften hard brown sugar? To soften brown sugar that has hardened, place it in a bowl, cover with a damp towel, and microwave for 30 seconds. Alternatively, use a food processor to break up clumps. Updated by Kirsten Nunez Kirsten Nunez Kirsten Nunez is a writer who focuses on food, health, nutrition, and DIY. She has a master's degree in nutrition, and has been writing professionally for nearly 10 years for digital and print publications, such as decorvow, Shape, Real Simple, Healthline, and SELF. She also creates original recipes, which have appeared on product packaging in stores. and Esther Reynolds Esther Reynolds Esther Reynolds is an experienced recipe developer, recipe tester, food editor, and writer with over a decade of experience in the food and media industries.